NEW DELHI: In a big embarrassment to the Centre and Delhi government ahead of the Commonwealth Games, a committee appointed by the Delhi High Court has said that workers at Games-related construction sites were not being paid minimum wages and were being made to work overtime for no extra money.

The four-member committee was set up to inquire into allegations levelled in a PIL which said conditions of workers at construction sites was miserable. In its report submitted to the court, the committee said the charges made in the PIL are "well founded".

Recommending "exemplary fine" be levied on errant authorities, the report said steps needed to be taken to start timebound registration of workers and extending to them benefits like weekly offs and hygienic living conditions.
After spending a month visiting several construction sites, the committee found that labourers were being exploited since they were hired by contractors unaware of labour laws.

The committee said many accidents at these sites were never reported while workers continued to work without safety gear. It also said muster rolls were not verified and that abuse of migrant workers was common.

The committee comprised Arundhati Ghose, former representative to the UN, NHRC's LN Mishra and labour commissioner and labour secretary of Delhi government.

No access for panel to sites under DIAL, DMRC

The high court panel members could not access sites under the control of DIAL and DMRC to check if workers at Games-related construction sites were not exploited due to security reasons, the report said. Respondents in the PIL include the Union and Delhi governments, NDMC and Sports Authority of India.

The report recommends that the workers be provided clean and hygienic living spaces, their wages be paid through zero balance accounts and they be registered by the welfare board.

Filed by the Peoples' Union For Democratic Rights (PUDR), the PIL had alleged that workers were being housed in 'crowded hovels' with no protection during winter, no power and filthy or no toilets.

Estimating the daily wage contract workers to number roughly 4,15,000, the PIL said since the Games-related construction work had been farmed out to private contractors who provided inhuman working and living conditions for the labourers.

NEW DELHI: Four months after missing the deadline, the Reliance-led concessionaire, Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL), will finally open the airport link for the public on 2pm on Wednesday. Passengers though will be getting a no-frills service, officials admitted.

Parking is not available at the New Delhi railway station (the originating station of the link) at present, said an official, adding, "We are also in talks to set up the cab services." That's not all still in the works. Sources said that besides cab services, the concessionaire was also trying to tie up other commercial services like pre-paid and TSR booths as well as check-in counters.

Good news is that along with passenger service DAMEPL will also provide porter services. The concessionaire has tied up with a private agency to deploy "educated" porters. "The porters have been given training in interpersonal skills for easy interaction with passengers," said an official. Refusing to divulge details about the porter rates, officials said that other services like radio cabs were expected to become available "soon".

The concessionaire will also offer a helpline service to commuters: 011-30802080. The helpline, available between the operational hours of 6am and 10pm, will offer information on fares, route, train operations and timings as well as double up as a public grievance system. Passengers can also use the helpline number to arrange for special arrangements like wheelchairs for senior citizens and physically disabled commuters.

According to DAMEPL officials, the frequency of trains on the Airport Express Metro line will initially be kept at 20 minutes. "This will be brought down subsequently, depending on factors like footfall, demand and other feedback," added the official.

DAMEPL also intends to ply four-six trains in the beginning, said sources. The concessionaire will be acquiring more trains from CAF, Spain, later. With a cost of Rs 5,700 crore, the Airport Express Metro line is the first PPP (public-private-partnership) Metro project in the city. The trains, which will run at a speed of 105kmph at present, have LCD screens showing flight information. A part of the compartments has been reserved for luggage.

With a base fare of Rs 80 for travel from New Delhi railway station to IGI airport, the airport link is targeted at those looking for a hassle-free commute to the airport. The concessionaire also hopes to address the need of commuters travelling to and from Dwarka to the heart of the city in a fraction of the time usually taken by other modes of travel. The fare for this service has been kept at Rs 100, which, DAMEPL officials claim, is "reasonable" for the comfort and time offered by the airport link. There are also monthly passes.

Does the demonetization affects the projects for the property builders or any downfall in the cost of real estate business .. I am sure some degrades should be happening at long run due to the property business

Piling work is underway in the town of Vrindavan, India, where a 213-metre temple could become the tallest religious building in the world. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is the developer behind the enormous project, which will soar from a 5.5-acre site and 70-metre-deep foundation piles. To put things in perspective, the huge spire will easily eclipse the 132.5-metre-tall St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.